DAY’S END ROUNDUP

John McCain’s push to get supporters to praise him with blog comments receives ridicule from bloggers themselves. Slow sales of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) new book delight conservative bloggers. And McCain and Barack Obama’s pop culture preferences serve as fodder for pundits looking for new insights.

McCain offered prizes such as autographed books and rides on the Straight Talk Express to supporters who spread his talking points on blogs. China’s Communist government had a similar program, notes Ezra Klein. If the program is any indication of McCain’s policies on the Internet, people who care about net neutrality, bloggers’ rights and technological infrastructure should be wary of the Republican, writes Justin Gardner at Donkelephant. Though the program has been around since at least May, Open Left’s Chris Bowers found only six McCain supporters who have participated.

Less than 3,000 copies of Pelosi’s book, “Know Your Power,” have been sold, notes Michelle Malkin, who suggests that it should instead be called, “Know Your Failure.” The book’s actual title probably isn’t helping sales, since it sounds like a “self-help paean” that’s “mindlessly positive,” writes Hot Air’s Allahpundit. While a source close to Pelosi said that House business has kept her from going on a book tour, she hasn’t been very busy at trying to get energy legislation passed that could lower gas prices, according to RedState’s haystack.

The 72-year-old McCain likes “24,” the serial-killer drama “Dexter” and R&B singer Usher, while the 47-year-old Obama enjoys “M*A*S*H,” John Coltrane and Frank Sinatra, notes Marc Ambinder, who suggests that their preferences should be reversed.

FROM THE BLOGS:
The Exciting World of McCain Astroturf Advocacy – Ezra Klein
McCain Wants You to Spam These Blogs – J. Gardner, Donkelephant
Trolling For Fun and Profit – D-Day
John McCain’s Spam Squadrons – Jesse Walker, Hit & Run
Six People Take Up McCain’s SpamBot Offer – C. Bowers, Open Left
Nancy Pelosi – Unimpressed, Unimpressive – haystack, RedState
Know Your Failure: Ask Nancy Pelosi – Michelle Malkin
Pelosi’s Book Sales In The Toilet – Allahpundit, Hot Air
McCain Is A Pop Culture Freak – Marc Ambinder
Obama: Please, Anything But HGTV! – Holly Bailey, Stumper

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Gitmo Jury Gives bin Laden Driver Light Sentence – Associated Press
EPA Rejects Request to Waive Renewable Fuel Standard – The Hill